"So is he gonna mimic Jackson Mahomes?": Fans troll Dylan Raiola's brother Dayton Raiola joining him at Nebraska

By Aman Sharma

Modified Sep 23, 2024 17:48 GMT

Nebraska has landed a key commitment from Dayton Raiola, the younger brother of Cornhuskers' freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. Although currently unrated by 247Sports' composite, Dayton, a Class of 2026 quarterback from Buford High School in Georgia, had other offers too. These came from programs such as Appalachian State and Charlotte.

Dayton Raiola's commitment also makes him the first pledge for coach Matt Rhule's 2026 recruiting class. The high school junior visited Nebraska multiple times during his recruitment, including a recent trip in July and a game-day visit in September.

Excited fans wasted no time poking fun on social media about what lies ahead for Dayton. One fan wrote:

“So is he gonna mimic Jackson Mahomes?”

Another quipped:

“Was obviously part of his older brother's NIL deal.”

Here is how other fans are reacting on social media:

"Have to wait for him to sign but still players today change their minds," a fan said.

"I’m kinda surprised since his brother is only a freshman. Is he really going to sit for 2 yrs Hell he could start year 1 at Iowa," a fan remarked.

Dayton Raiola expressed his enthusiasm for following in his family’s footsteps. In a previous interview with On3, he had said:

“The offer from Nebraska is very special. It was a crazy feeling when I found out about it. My dad went there, my uncle is there, my brother is looking at them, and it is just cool to know I have the chance to go there. Every time we go to Nebraska, we see my dad’s name inside the stadium and it is a special feeling to have this offer.”

His older brother Dylan has already made an impact for Nebraska, leading the team to a 3-1 start in 2024. He has thrown for 967 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 72.2% of his passes.

Nebraska’s next challenge comes this Saturday when they face Purdue, aiming for their first Big Ten win.

Dayton Raiola continues the family legacy with commitment to Nebraska

With his recent commitment to Nebraska, Dayton Raiola becomes the latest in his family to join the Cornhuskers.

His father, Dominic Raiola, was a standout player for Nebraska, earning All-Big 12 honors twice during his time with the team, from 1997 to 2000. He then enjoyed a 14-year career in the NFL with the Detroit Lions.

Dayton Raiola expressed his excitement, in an interview with On3, about the experience following a visit to Nebraska in July.

“Felt great to be back on campus again! Every time I go there, the motto doesn’t change from anybody, especially the coaches! Got to spend some good time with Isaiah Mozee too and he was awesome to be around. It was a fun little trip, did a scavenger hunt but also got to talk some ball.

He added:

“Overall it was an amazing time back being with blood family and extended family, coaches, players, etc. Also, it was fun being told what to do by my sister since she’s the general manager of recruiting there.”

Donovan Raiola, Dayton’s uncle, is the Cornhuskers’ offensive line coach, having joined the team after coaching with the Chicago Bears for four years. His older sister, Taylor, also plays a key role as a graduate manager in Nebraska’s recruiting department.